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1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend. If you disappear for more than 24 hours, especially during combat, I will simply place your character on infinite delay just to keep things moving.
2) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
3) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
4) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
5) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
6) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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Your adventure begins in the Grand Lodge of Absalom, where Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin has summoned you to help Rain in Cloudy Day with an urgent task. When you arrive in the venture-captain’s office, you find Rain in a desperate state.
Rain in Cloudy Day stands on a chair behind a large oak desk covered with documents.
"Ah, you’ve arrived! What a relief! I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment, and I could use your help. The Pathfinder Society leadership is in a closed-door meeting right now, reviewing the latest news from Iobaria, the distant land where the Society has focused its efforts of late. I can’t wait to hear more about all the interesting things our agents discovered there! But, while they’re busy, I’ve been asked to catalog the flood of correspondence from our Inner Sea lodges. Just look at all these letters! Ambrus—that is, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin—asked me to sort and summarize all of it, but there’s so much! And, I’m not ashamed to admit that with my relative inexperience, all of it seems urgent! I’ve got to put a report together, but I’m overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar names and places! Here, take these
letters. See what you can make of them. I’d hate to miss something important and disappoint the venture-captain, and I think the meeting is almost over."
Rain hands you six pieces of parchment (see pages 4-5 in the slides).
"Feel free to share these among yourselves and exchange information."
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Henri, a man in simple clothes with staff at hand, a backpack and healer's tools, scans all the letters Rain in Cloudy Day hands to them and gives him a summary of each.
"Disturbing events happening in Almas Cathedral with legal claims on the side; Master Varian is missing that needs to be found, else it may compromise our position in Cheliax; undead infestation in lower levels of the lodge in Osirion, unbeknownst yet to the Ruby Prince; and needs new agents to finalize process and maintenance of building, because the previous agents sent to Sedeq are missing; needs agents to investigate how dissidents in Oppara are able to acquire wayfinders, do I understand this correctly?; and late arrival of Sixwing Drake this morning with Pathfinder Society goods to be pick-up later midday. Whew! These are a lot to take for a day, huh? Henri Hart, by the way."
He also hands the letters to others for them to read thoroughly.
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The ifrit looks quickly at the letters. It's not really his cup of tea, to read letters to find clues, even if he may have some ideas for one or another of them. But his breastplate as well as the katana and the longbow emerging from the quiver placed in his back tell more about him.
He pays also attention that the fiery leopard which arrived with him doesn't approach nearer the parchments to avoid to burn one.
We can't manage to be in all these places this morning, Henri Hart. But the venture-captain will tell us what he expects from us today for sure.
Then: Oh don't caress Catlyn. You could burn yourself. I'm used to myself and it doesn't hurt me.
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A wild eyed young woman with pitch black long hair and pale skin is also present, she seems to be of Nidalese heritage but it may be rude to ask, she dresses in a rather utilitarian way and the most notorious trait is a satchel that she holds from where a tiny, orange and coppery red furry animal pokes it's head out and looks intently at the cards.
"Huh... Many things to address and I fear cultists may be pulling the Strings in more than one of these..." Muses to herself the Nidalese witch or so appears at first as soon it becomes obvious that the exotic animal in her satchel is more than a pet.
"Penny your manners!" Squeals the animal with a child like voice and some concern, a familiar then.
"You right Mofu, ahem... Hello guys I'm Penelo Raveneye but I go by Penny, hope we can work together. Says the witch in a formal tone trying to not offend anyone so early.
"Not gonna lie, what's happening in Osirion looks like the doing of cultists... Deranged lunatic who worships things that shouldn't exist..! I may explain their conspiracy in more detail later if you happen to have some free time but now I think that the Lodge in Osirion need us" Proposes Penny as she identifies the undead threat in Osirion Lodge as the most time pressing, at least in her view which is, admittedly often distorted by non-existant cults and conspiracy theories.
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"Yep undead are bad but hey! Someone is being mean to the Grand Princess Eutropia! I'd like to help her yanno! Imagine that! A humble but noble and impossibly handsome red Panda saves Taldor!" That's the small familiar in Penny's satchel speaking, a red panda judging by what he just said.
"oh! I'm Mofu by the way! I'm Penny's humble familiar and world savvy red panda!" Introduces himself the red panda as he jumps out of his satchel and starts to fly around with an impossibility tiny set of bat like wings that sprout from his back, his species surely don't have these normally... He then proceed to sniff the other agents in the room, he sniff at each of them, one by one and makes some faces while doing so as if pondering.
"Nice! They're all good! Good agents and worthy allies if I say so myself!" declares the familiar which keeps hovering around the room.
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"Good morning, chaps! What a fine day! I hear there's a mission available and we've been called to assist. Did I also hear someone mention correspondence? I'd be happy to look at some. It never hurts to know more about what's going on in the world. Plus, you never know when you'll spot something interesting that might take you to some exciting new locale." says a smartly turned out, well-muscled human man at the entrance to the the room. "Rafe Thoresby, explorer, pleased to make all of your acquaintances." You are unsure from his tone whether he actually means it. He wears scale mail and carries a Dwarven Waraxe, katana and shield on his back.
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A pale elven woman, with a black ponytail, enters the office. Her right eye is violet, her left eye black. She has long purple nails, and wears a jester’s motley in purple, black and white. Holding a large marotte (jester’s baton), she wears a black cloak with the hood down.
”Aldonza Delamorte”, she says with an elaborate bow. She eyes Catlyn cautiously, but sniffs Mofu back with a grin.
Looking over the disarray on the desk (and behind it), she flicks through most of it disinterestedly, until she finds the report about the wayfinders. Tilting her head like a curious dog, she says, ”Ooo, something hinky about this Muesello fellow! Forgery?”
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A young man with a long blond beard and the same long hair looks up from reading letters when he hears the word "cultists" and looks hard at Penny for a long time. His blue-green eyes express all that great sadness and confidence in the depravity of the world, which is so characteristic of young people (about) eighteen years old. However, a few scars and an obviously strong body prove that this guy is definitely worth something in battle.
When he hears about the cultists again, his eyes fill with even more unspeakable sadness, he rolls them up and says softly:
Ah girl, if only you knew. The main breeding ground of cults is our Society. Lodges within lodges. Sects inside the inner lodges. Etc.
He sighs again and goes back to reading the letters, reflexively pushing his light hammer closer to him. In his clothes there are some elements and patterns peculiar to the northern countries, but the accent betrays an Absalom native.
Yes, and hello to everyone. My name is Radim. He listlessly raises his hand, not looking up from reading.
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"It seems like the secession of the Exchange from the Society has caused some problems in Qadira. I think we, I mean that in the collective sense, may have some property issues there. All of these things," he gestures at the letters, "could be seen as minor issues but the timing seems remarkably unlucky, as if there's more to it. What do you think?" He looks around at the group.
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"My main concern would be Osirion but I accept suggestions... Two or three heads think better than one... That's why Mofu is so useful! Anyways... My vote is for Osirion" States the witch as she proudly grabs her familiar as if showing it off, and the little guy seems okay with that, in fact he looks kinda happy.
"I rather suspect the Venture-Captain will just tell us what he'd like us to do. As we're in Absalom, I expect he will send us down to the docks." Rafe shrugs.
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It all looks like some kind of conspiracy. Does this always happen? So many problems at the same time in all lodges? Maybe something similar to that Aspis attack that happened about six years ago seems to be starting? My father was telling me about those events and... - here he pauses, as if he thinks he has blurted out too much. Yes, we will be given a task and we will go wherever the Venture-Captain says.
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You give Rain this information and he eagerly writes it all down in his notebook. As a brand-new Pathfinder agent, he is especially curious about any information pertaining to the Pathfinder Society’s older factions. Rain ponders aloud whether these events might be related, but before he can ask for more details, a tall man with tan skin and dark, meticulously groomed hair throws open the doors and strides into the office: Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin clearly has something urgent on his mind. Rain in Cloudy Day jumps up to interrupt him, proclaiming that the report summarizing the correspondence is ready. The venture-captain, taken aback, accepts the journal that Rain shoves into his hands. Rain watches expectantly as Valsin skims the report.
Ambrus Valsin nods to those gathered and says in a gruff voice, "Ah, yes. Thank you Rain, agents. Let me see… this is all quite worrying! Your thoroughness is praiseworthy. Unfortunately, we cannot act on any of this right now. Another urgent matter has come up, right on our doorstep. I need agents to go to the Blakros Museum and meet with Curator Adjutant Seshuun, who is temporarily in charge. I do not have any details, but she’s requested the Society’s immediate presence, and she seems upset. We’ve worked hard to establish a working relationship with the museum, and I do not want it to fall to pieces now with everything else going on. Please help the curator with anything she may need, and if you can, try to make a good first impression. Rain and I will remain here and bring this report to the Society’s leadership. Some of this is quite serious, and we’ll take it all the way to the Decemvirate if needed!"
"Unless you have further questions for me, you'd best be off!"
Since you were so helpful, Rain in Cloudy Day expresses sincere gratitude for your help and gives you four lesser healing potions and your choice of two of the following: an acid flask, alchemist’s fire, tanglefoot bag or thunderstone (all moderate).
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"Huh... I'm not a fan of the Azarketi..." Mumbles the witch to the others agents before steeling herself ready.
"alright let's go to the museum then, assessing the situation would be faster if we're right there" Meanwhile her familiar neatly stores the potions and two thunderstones, he didn't asked her master for permission or opinion but she seems to be okay with her furry friend's judgement, thunderstones are good what else can be said?
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Gardeners and landscapers busily haul plants and building materials through the gardens that flank the path leading to the imposing, multistory building that is the Blakros Museum. Its outer walls are crafted almost entirely from a single chunk of volcanic rock. A woman stands near the entrance, speaking with several of the workers in a calm yet commanding voice. She has deep blueish-purple skin and vibrant teal markings, denoting her ancestry as one of the aquatic azarketi. She approaches you and introduces herself.
"Well met. I am Curator Adjutant Seshuun. What business do you have at the museum?"
The plants—a few real, but most of them fake—are intended to make the gardens appear like a grove straight out of Iobaria.
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Henri finds the plants amusing just to discover that they are mostly fake.
"Greetings, Curator Adjutant Seshuun. I am Henri Hart, cleric of Nethys. As my ally Drilwenwënas says here, we are sent by request by the Lodge. Ambrus Valsin says there is an urgent matter here that needs to be resolved and the details are to be known first-hand by you. We are here to help. And by the way, as I look at it, outside this Blakros Museum, the gardens appear like a grove straight out of Iobaria. Is that the theme of the museum, I presume?" he informs Seshuun and compliments their hardwork with a warm smile from him.
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"Greetings, I'm Penelo Raveneye but I go by Penny, hope we can help" Shyly introduces herself the witch being a little intimidated by the Azarketi, she gives a look to the plants feeling as if she had seem somewhere else, Iobaria according to her companions, she has not been there but as certainly read some books.
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"Greetings, I'm Penelo Raveneye but I go by Penny, hope we can help" Shyly introduces herself the witch being a little intimidated by the Azarketi, she gives a look to the plants feeling as if she had seem somewhere else, Iobaria according to her companions, she has not been there but as certainly read some books.
In fact they're from Iobaria but some are fake, interesting...
"Nice garden by the way, looks good along the building." Adds Penny as she looks around for anything else that may catch her attention or is out of place.
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"So, you’re the ones Valsin sent to fix this mess. No, not the gardens. The shipment! You know, the relics? The Iobarian relics? Surely you can explain why the shipment hasn’t been delivered yet. The Sixwing Drake should have arrived with the relics by now, but I’ve heard no word. We can make the gardens look as authentic as we want, but nobody is going to visit an empty exhibit. The recent business with the curator, Nigel Aldain, has tarnished the museum’s reputation enough as it is. I can’t allow the Society’s delays to cause further problems. You look like you might have questions. Please tell me you can help?"
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”And I may also add that museums are our windows to the past. They give us a glimpse of what we were and the world we live into that could have shaped us to what we are now. For that, I am willing to help to determine the cause of delay of the shipment and bring the Iobarian relics here as soon as possible." Henri answers the heed of the curator adjutant.
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A heavily-furred Erutaki man hustles to catch up with the party, accompanied by a galomping little polar bear. The two seem wildly out of place in this moderate-temperature city, and their demeanor reinforces that. The two appear antsy to get out into the wilderness again.
"Sorry for being late. Just got the memo from Venture-Captain Valsin. I am Tonraq and this is Oogi. How can we help?"
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Curator Sechuun visibly relaxes at Radim's reassurance.
"I apologize for being short with you. This job has been really maddening. I need to make a good first impression with the museum management. But all these disruptions are getting out of hand. I am grateful for any help you can provide. I hope that the museum can assist the Society as well."
"Now then, it is imperative that you make your way to the docks to see what has happened to the relics aboard the Sixwing Drake. We can talk of other matters later, but for now you must go to the docks as soon as possible. I do have some items for you, though. These may help you in your search for the relics." She hands you an everburning torch, as well as a small statuette of a black dog. The statue is about an inch high. "His name is Dusty. To summon him, you need but to place the statue on the ground and speak his name."
Your journey from the Blakros Museum to the docks doesn’t take long. The waterfront teems with activity and the sights and sounds of one of the Inner Sea’s largest ports. Once you navigate through the crowded streets, they can approach any one of the dozens of dockworkers, who wave them toward the docks where they can find Harbormaster Hansara Molnesh and the Sixwing Drake.
Hansara Molnesh is a tall, broad-shouldered Garundi woman with weathered bronze skin and graying hair. She directs a small group of dockworkers who are busy loading barrels onto a sleek, blue-sailed ship emblazoned with the name Sixwing Drake in faded paint.
"Well met! What is it you need?"
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We are looking for the Sixwing Drake. It should be arrived a time ago. It seems it's here now. We need to take several objects from it for the count of the Blakros Museum.
The ifrit looks around when they arrive in the port to search for the ship and then asks the Harobormaster his questions once they found the ship.